Apple chief pushes for US privacy law to stop ‘weaponizing’ data

Apple CEO Tim Cook yesterday said the United States needed a federal privacy law because personal information was being “weaponised” against internet users, reports Brussels.

“We at Apple are in full support of a comprehensive federal privacy law in the United States,” Cook told a conference in Brussels.

Gossip, he said, had become a lucrative trade for the Internet giants.

“Today that trade has exploded into a data industrial complex. Our own information, from the everyday to the deeply personal, is being weaponized against us with military efficiency,” Cook said.

“We shouldn’t sugarcoat the consequences. This is surveillance,” Cook said. “And these stockpiles of personal data serve only to enrich the companies that collect them.”

Unlike internet giants Facebook and Google, Apple’s business model does not rely on the collection and commercial use of its users’ personal data.

The company mostly sells hardware, but also increasingly streaming, payment and storage services.

Cook said a US privacy law should allow for personal data to be minimized and force companies to de-identify customer data or not collect this information in the first place.

Users should also have the right to know what data are being collected and what for, and get to decide what collection is legitimate, and which is not.

“Anything less is a sham,” Cook said.

He applauded European Union work on the protection of privacy, especially its General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

“We should celebrate the transformative work of the European institutions tasked with the successful implementation of the GDPR,” he said.

“It is time for the rest of the world—including my home country—to follow your lead,” Cook said.

The European Commission welcomed Cook’s remarks, saying they indicated that the EU was on the right track in terms of data protection.

 

Apple chief pushes for US privacy law to stop weaponizing data

Apple CEO Tim Cook yesterday said the United States needed a federal privacy law because personal information was being weaponised against internet users, reports Brussels. We at Apple are in full support of a comprehensive federal privacy law in the United States, Cook told a conference in Brussels. Gossip, he said, had become a lucrative trade for the Internet giants. Today that trade has exploded into a data industrial complex. Our own information, from the everyday to the deeply personal, is being weaponized against us with military efficiency, Cook said. We shouldnt sugarcoat the consequences. This is surveillance, Cook said. And these stockpiles of personal data serve only to enrich the companies that collect them. Unlike internet giants Facebook and Google, Apples business model does not rely on the collection and commercial use of its users personal data. The company mostly sells hardware, but also increasingly streaming, payment and storage services. Cook said a US privacy law should allow for personal data to be minimized and force companies to de-identify customer data or not collect this information in the first place. Users should also have the right to know what data are being collected and what for, and get to decide what collection is legitimate, and which is not. Anything less is a sham, Cook said. He applauded European Union work on the protection of privacy, especially its General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). We should celebrate the transformative work of the European institutions tasked with the successful implementation of the GDPR, he said. It is time for the rest of the worldincluding my home countryto follow your lead, Cook said. The European Commission welcomed Cooks remarks, saying they indicated that the EU was on the right track in terms of data protection.